Everett d



(No Model.) E. D. MOORE.

PENCIL SHARPENER.

Patented June 27, 1898.

2. W. mm, "fw% NITED' STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EVERETT D. MOORE, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR TO THE SOUTHERN TOY AND NOVELTY COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

PENClL-SHARPENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 500,504, dated June 27, 1893.

Application filed February 20, 1893. Serial No. 463,111. (No model.)

gitudinal slotfor the escape of the dust. The

prior constructions of this class of pencil sharpeners are objectionable in that the two members are rigidly connected at their opposite ends and in drawing the pencil out at one end of the sharpener the point isbroken or injured and imperfectly sharpened pencils are the result.

The object of my invention is to provide a new and improved'construction, whereby the members yield laterally away from each other as the pencil is moved toward the exit end of the trough-shaped channel, for the purpose of permitting the quick egress of the pencil point in a downward direction between the members without breaking or injuring the same.

To accomplish this object my invention consists essentially in a pencil sharpener, composed of a pair of beveled, gritty-faced arms or members separated by a longitudinal slot, rigidly connected at one end and laterally yielding away from each other at their opposite ends to permit the free exit of the pencil point without breaking or injuring the same.

The invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1, is a perspective view of my improved pencil sharpener. Fig. 2, is a bottom plan view showing the two arms or members in their normal position in full lines and sprung apart in dotted lines. Fig. 3, is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 3-3 Fi 2.

Tn order to enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention I will now describe the same in detail, referring to the drawings wherein the numeral 1, indicates a handle of any suitable form, shape, or construction, and projecting from the head 2 of the Sharpener. The head is provided with a pair of arms or members 4, arranged substantially parallel with each other and each provided with a beveled inner side, covered with a gritty substance 5, such as sand paper, or corundu m, or emery. The beveled innersides of the arms or members 4 are so relatively arranged as to provide a trough-shaped channel which is substantially V-shaped in cross-section, and the arms or members are separated from each other by a longitudinal slot 6, extending continuously from or near the head 2 to the outer extremities of the arms or members. The handle, the head and the arms are preferably constructed of a single piece of wood and the arms or members are elastic so that they can spring or yield laterally away from each other nearly or substantially their entire length, in such manner that when a pencil is placed in contact with the beveled, gritty-faced arms or members and is drawn in a direction away from the head 2, the arms or members yield laterally and therefore the pencil point can freely escape in a downward direction at the exit end of the trough-shaped channel. not be broken or injured, as is the case where the arms or members are inelastic or are connected together at the exit end of the sharpener. The longitudinal slot 6 permits the free escape of the dust and other matter resulting from the sharpening of the pencil.

While I prefer to construct the handle, the head and the laterally yielding arms or members of a single piece of wood, I do not wish to be understood as confining myself to this particular construction.

My invention provides a very simple, efficient, and economical device which is specially designed for the use of school children to sharpen their slate-pencils, but it can be used by others for sharpening all kinds of pencils.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. A pencil sharpener, consisting of a pair of gritty-faced laterally elastic arms or members separated by a longitudinal slot, connected together at one end and disconnected at the opposite end so that they can yield laterally away from each other to permit the free exit of the pencil point without breaking or injuring the same, substantially as described.

By this means the pencil point will 2. A pencil sharpener, consisting of a pair of beveled, gritty-faced laterally elastic arms or members separated by a longitudinal slot, rigidly connected together at one end and laterally yielding away from each other at their opposite ends to permit the free exit of the pencil point without breaking or injuring the same, substantially as described.

3. A pencil sharpener, consisting of a head having a projecting handle and a pair of beveled, gritty-faced arms or members separated by a longitudinal slot, rigidly joined at one 

